The risk of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections are continuously increasing in US healthcare facilities, more important in long term health care facilities, according to the new data provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is very difficult or even impossible to treat such deadly infection, as said by CDC. There was at least 1 carbapenem-resistant infection

New data suggest that resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae are becoming more common. A microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examines some of the bacteria.(Photo credit: CDC)

case due to health care facility in 2012. The risk of such infections were higher in long term care facilities i.g 18% , compared with 5% in acute care hospitals.

These infections could increase the risk of transfer of drug resistant genes into bacterias via plasmid such as Escherichia coli, warned CDC Director Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, during a press briefing in March. Frieden described CRE as “nightmare bacteria.”

“We only have limited opportunity to stop these bacteria from spreading to the community,” he said.

“This is something almost exclusively occurring in patients extensively exposed to health care,” said Arjun Srinivasan, MD, associate director for healthcare-associated infection prevention programs at the CDC. “It’s not yet an issue we face in the community.”